Fence-post



(MOdeL) S. HEATON.

FENOE POST. No. 247,344. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL BEATON, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

FENCE-POST SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,344, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed May 26,1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL HEATON, of Cedar Rapids, Linn county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence- Posts, of which the following is a specification.

Figurelis aside view of myimproved braced fence-post, showing the attached wire fencing in section. Fig. 2 is an elevation at right angles with Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation on line a: m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of fences, more especially those made of vertical iron posts carrying longitudinally-stretched iron wire.

I more particularly describe my invention as follows:

In the drawings, A represents an iron fencepost, to which the lower triangular braces, B, and longitudinal wires F are secured. The line 3 y represents the surface of the ground in which the posts A are set to support-the fence.

My present invention is an improvement on the fence patented to me November 5, 1878, in which patent the fence-post is shown slotted at the point of connection of the top of the triangular brace'therewith. I have in my present invention avoided the cutting or slotting of the fence-post A at such point, and consequently preserve the full strength of the post above the ground, as shown in the drawings. The brace B is made in triangular form, and is secured by means of two links, 0 and D, the link 0, locked by the key H, holding the base of the brace to the post A, and the link D holding and locking its upper curved or hooked ends, I), to the edges of the post.

The manner of constructing and combining the last above-mentioned parts is as follows: The post A is cut from a bar of iron, preferably rectangular and about one inch wide by three-eighths inchthick, the cut post being about five and one-half feet long. The slotAis then punched in it about four and one-half feet from one (its upper) end, and the post is ready to receive the brace. Said brace B is made preferably of one-half inch round ironin-the triangular shape shown in the drawings, its upper extremities being curved or bent, as at b. The links or loops 0 D are also formed as indicated in the drawings. The lower loop, 0, is then slipped onto the base 0 of the brace B by passing it over one ofthe curved extremities b. The upper ends, b I), may then be sprung together sufficiently to pass the link D over both curved ends 1) onto the brace just below said ends, as shown. The brace B is then slipped onto the post A, which post passes through the open center of the link D, so that said link takes against both sides or faces of the post A, said links I) being of properlength to hold the bent ends I) firmly against the edges of the post, as shown. The link 0 may then be passed intoand through the slot A, the

nail, pin, or key H being passed through said link 0 at the back side of the post to bind the brace firmly thereto. The post A, with brace B attached, is then ready to be set in the ground, the base of the brace being capable of adjustment in the ground within the link 0, as may be required to properly support the fence.

The method of securing the wires F to the posts A without notching or otherwise cutting and weakening said posts is as follows: The wire fastenings G are bent horizontally in a loop, as at g, to fit one edge and both sides of the post A, and their ends are then bent vertically, upward ordownward, and looped around the longitudinal wires F, as at g. The fastenings G are thus made with double loops, each loop clasping the wire F.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The link D, in combination with the post A and brace B, substantially as herein shown and described, for locking the upper extremities of the brace against the post, as set forth.

2. In combination with the post A, brace B, and link D forlocking the upper extremities of the brace-to the post, the link 0 attached, as shown, to the base B and passing through the slot A, as and for the purposes described.

SAMUEL HEATON. 

